GREENSBORO — St. Mary’s Church celebrated Black Catholic History Month and its own black Catholic roots in Greensboro in November.
The Knights Of Peter Claver were a focus of the celebration Nov. 11, with Mass offered by Vincentian Father William Allegretto, pastor. In his homily, Deacon Stephen Pickett from St. Francis of Assisi Church in Lenoir talked about the Knights Of Peter Claver and the legacy of the Knights’ namesake St. Peter Claver, a Spanish priest who ministered to African slaves. Deacon Pickett explained that the Knights of Peter Claver in Mobile, Ala., were founded because black men were prevented from joining the Knights of Columbus during the era of segregation.
Headquartered in New Orleans, the Knights are now the largest historically African-American Catholic lay organization in the U.S., and there is a chapter in the Diocese of Raleigh.
The parish’s celebration was also highlighted with music from St. Mary’s African Igbo Choir. In a discussion program after Mass, Deacon Pickett urged parishioners to support the sainthood causes for Father Augustus Tolton, Sister Thea Bowman and other black Catholics whose causes for canonization are under way.
— Photos provided by Ann Graves
